Lacing-hook.



PATENTED JULY 12, 1904.

0. P. COLLINS, JR.

LAOING HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED mm: 9, 1902.

no menu.

UNITED STATES Patented J'ulv 12, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FORTY-EIGHT ONE-HUNDREDTHS BURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

TO CHARLES M. CLARKE, OF PITTS- LACING-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,129, dated July 12, 1904.

Application filed June 9, 1902. Serial No. 110,817. (No model.)

To all 11/71/0717 if m m runner-n:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. COLLINS, Jr. a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lacing-Hooks, of

which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a partial front View of the meeting edges of a portion of a shoe or other laced article provided with my improved lacinghook. Fig. 2 is a detached view of the hook in side elevation, on an enlarged scale, showing the hook closed. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View on the line IV IV of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is aview similar to Fig.2, but showing the hook attached to the material and in an open position ready for the insertion of the lace. Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional View on the line VII VII of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the hook detached in a closed position. Fig. 9 is a similar View showing the hook open. Fig. 10 is a vertical section on the line X Xof Fig. 3 on a further enlarged scale.

My invention refers to the class of lacing hooks or devices for attachment to shoes or other articles adapted to be laced; and the object of the invention is to provide means for covering a portion of, the slot or opening, so as to prevent escape of the lace and to provide a smooth rounded end after the lace has been inserted.

The ordinary opening of the hook usually employed is objectionable, especially with ladies shoes, for the reason that it is apt to catch. and tear the skirt or binding, and I have overcome such objection by closing the outer end of the slot by means of a pivotal gate which in its open position also provides a convenient guide for the lace and facilitates its insertion.

Referring to the drawings, 2 is the body portion of the hook, provided with an upwardlyextending back 3 and an outer extended top 4, the front and upper portion of which is rounded, as clearly shown, so as to obviate all corners or edges which would be apt to project and catch or tear the skirt, &c. The base 2 is adapted to be secured to the leather or other material 5 in any suitable manner and is preferably provided with a riveting extension or hasp 6, adapted to be inserted and turned over in the usual manner of such securing devices, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

Pivotally mounted to either the upper side of the hook or base, but preferably to the base, as at 7, is a laterally-swinging gate 8, adapted to conform to the shape of the main hook and to move in a plane controlled by its pivotal bearing, provided at itsback portion with an upper extension or lug 9 and at the front with a similar upwardlyextending lug 10, which elements are preferably made integral with the gate. The back lug is adapted to conform to the inner face of the vertical back 3, so that when the gate is closed it will lie snugly against it, the outer face of the lug being preferably rounded, as shown, and providing a bearing for the lace under tension. The outer side of the outer lug 10 also conforms to the contour of the outer edge of base 2 and top 4, so that when closed it forms a continuation of said edges, and on its inner side and exposed side edges it is smooth and rounded at the corners, so as not to tear or abrade the lace.

The pivotal bearing 7 may may be of any desired construction, as a screw or rivet; but a cheap and satisfactory construction is provided by forcing the metal of the base upwardly and turning its top over the top of the gate, as with a rivet, and as clearly shown in the drawings. This pivotal bearing is located to one side of the center of the hook, so that when the gate is thrown outwardly or drops downwardly by gravity, as clearly shown in the upper portion of Fig. l and in Figs. 6, 7, and 9, it will be in a position to receive the lace, which may be then dropped downwardly between the edge of the top 4 and lug 10. The location of the pivotal bearing 7 adjacent to the front edge of the back 3 is inwardly against the back 3 and closing the gate, as clearly shown in the lower portion of Fig. 1 and Figs. 2, 3, L, 8, and 10, in which position it will be maintained by tension of the lace until the lace is loosened, when it.

may with equal facility be removed.

'1. he advantages of my invention will be appreciated by all those skilled in the art and accustomed to the use of lacing hooks or studs, and it will be found particularly available for ladies shoes. It is very simple and cheap in construction, very eliicient in operation, and not liable to get out of order. As will be understood and as shown in Fig. 1, it should be made in rights and lofts, and it may be made in any size or proportions to suit the objects in view. The body portion should be of metal or other hard material and may,

if desired, be covered with enamel or othersuitable substance, as is well understood in the art.

Other changes and variations may be made by the skilled mechanic, but all such are to be considered as within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is 1. A lacing-hook comprising a base having a front opening clear across its width and a laterally-movable pivoted gate, substantially as set forth.

2. A lacing-hook having a front opening and a laterally-movable pivoted gate, having a front portion adapted to close the opening and an upwardly-extending back portion adapted to provide a bearing for the lace, substantially as set forth.

3. A lacing-hook having an upwardly-extending back, a forwardly-extending rounded top, a front opening and a securing portion, with a laterally-movable pivoted gate provided with a projecting portion adapted to close the opening, and an upwardly-cxtending back portion adapted to provide a bearing for the lace, substantially as set forth.

4. In a lacing-hook, the combination with a base having means for securing it to an article of apparel, and an upwardly-extending lace-holding portion providing an opening for the lace between said base and lace-holding portion; of a pivoted gate mounted on the base adapted to be closed and opened by the lace.

5. A lacing-hook of the character described provided with an approximately U shaped jaw arranged with its arms disposed upwardly, the outer arm of said jaw being formed to lie flush with the opposing end of the hook when in closed position to constitute a smooth unbroken surface, and means at the lowerportion of the jaw for pivotally securing the same to the base of the hook, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. A lacing-hook of the character described,

provided at its open side with a closingjaw,

the outer surface of said jaw being adapted in closed position to lie flush with the outer surface of the hook, and means for pivotally securing the jaw to the base of the hook, the exposed side edges of both the hook and the jaw being rounded; substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. A lacing device consisting of a base. a hook extension, and a pivoted closing-jaw or gate having a front portion adapted to partially close the opening between the base and the hook, and a back portion adapted to be engaged by the lace.

8. A lacing device consisting of a base, a hook extension, and a pivoted closing-jaw or gate having a front portion adapted to partially close the opening between the base and the hook, and a back portion adapted to be engaged by the lace, and means for securing the base in position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. COLLINS, JR.

Witnesses:

WM. A. MEANS, A. J. E. MEANS. 

